American Doll and Toy Museum: The Influence of Old Dolls on New, Out with the Old, but In with the Old!

Monday, October 17, 2022

The Influence of Old Dolls on New, Out with the Old, but In with the Old!

Influence of Old Dolls on New, Out with the Old, but In with the Old

Please note that the photos and content here are my work, and are copyrighted once published. If you

quote me, or use my ideas, please credit me.

Avon Pincushion doll, 1980s on the right was

used as a prop in Jackie's apartment in TVs Rosanne,

Left of her is a c. 1870s brown eyed china head.

Doll creation often involves variation on a theme. Older dolls definitely influence how new ones are made. For example, the concept of jointed dolls is not new; jointed dolls exited in Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece, and America. Bits of wire, wooden pegs, sinews, these and more created dolls that could move. Antique ball jointed bodies directly influenced modern BJDs or ball jointed dolls. Cloth dolls also are not a new concept; the 2000 plus year old Roman rag doll that now resides in a museum is proof. Very old Indigenous dolls of hide stuffed with grass or other soft fibers have existed for centuries.

Asian porcelain doll, 1990s, shown with a Horseman

vinyl headed doll on a cloth body made to look like an antique.

Vinyl ball jointed doll by Hestia. Current.

New dolls also imitate old when the doll market demands it. During the mid seventies to early 90s, doll collecting was pushing stamps and coins out of the way as the top collecting hobby. Prices for vintage and antique dolls soared; soon, reproduction dolls became popular. Perhaps Emma Clear, business woman who held some kind of law degree, created early reproductions of famous china head and Parian dolls as early as the 1940s, was the first porcelain reproduction artist. Her art was celebrated in books by authors like Janet Pagter Johl and Eleanor St. George. The trend to reproduce antique dolls continued through the late 20^th century. They were very popular, but prices for reproductions also began to soar, even as they took over floor space at doll shows. Some cost over $1000, the same as a good antique.

Companies like B. Shackman and Mark Farmer Co. of El Cerrito, CA, recognized that collectors loved the antique bisque and china dolls, but often did not have the funds to collect them. B. Shackman also reproduced antique wax, wooden, and cloth dolls. Some of their dolls were tiny, but a few were larger dolls, up to about 18 inches. Mark Farmer made dolls in all sizes, with some dolls representing antique replicas, while others were art dolls created by the Mark Farmer family.

1960s, 70s vinyl and hard plastic Effanbee doll

dressed in a 19th century costume.

In 1979, an endearing but cheaply made bisque doll with a wig and painted features appeared in magazine ads. She cost $20.00, and she spawned a host of relatives called “Waldas” today, taken from the game, “Where’s Waldo? Walda appeared everywhere; I’ve even seen some in museums in Canada. Other companies from Asia began to make similar dolls wearing old fashioned clothing. Some companies made more elaborate dolls; two, Paradise Galleries and Cathay Collection still make dolls today. Aldi, K-Mart, Dollar General, Big Box Stores, J.C. Penney, Montgomery Wards, Younkers, and other department stores sold dozens of them. The Seymour Mann company, founded by the parents of best selling novelist Erica Jong, Seymour and Eda Mann, created art dolls in porcelain, figurines, and porcelain reproductions in period clothing. While pricey, these dolls still cost less than their antique counterparts. Their Victorian looks appealed to collectors and interior decorators alike. They often appear as props in movies and TV shows.

Other companies like Franklin Mint, Heritage Mint, The Hamilton Collection, and others began to make porcelain dolls a high quality vinyl dolls with antique clothing. These dolls were limited editions, made to be collected. They don’t bring much today on the secondary market, though they are beautiful. Gorgeous dolls representing Jumeau and Bru Bébés by artists Pat Loveless and Mundia cost hundreds of dollars originally, but now can cost as low as 30.00 at an estate sale.

Postage stamp Baby Stuart doll, late 90s, early 21st century.

L, Asian porcelain doll that plays music, center,

"antique" made by the author using Xeroxed photos,

cloth and yarn, right, all porcelain reproduction Asian doll with ball jointed

body.

Horseman, Ideal, Effanbee, Madame Alexander, and others made some porcelain examples, but also created vinyl dolls that looked like antique bisque dolls. Sometimes, antique molds were used to make vinyl dolls, as in the Effanbee doll that uses the antique German “Baby” mold.

L, tiny doll house doll with B. Shackman mold, Center,e

Reproduction French Fashion, right, another 7.5 inch doll made from

a mold used by Shackman.

Display of antique dolls and modern dolls

they have influenced.

The Asian dolls have really fallen out of favor, and can cost as low as 2.00 in thrift stores. Some crafters like to turn them into monster dolls, while other collectors like to strip them of their clothes and wigs to “piece them out “for profit at doll shows.

Artist reproductions have also fallen from grace; few make them and molds are often just given away at sales. Recently, I purchased many that sold for 1.25 at sales, while their original prices were 50.00 to 165.00 or more. I can tell you from experience that the molds and parts for these dolls were expensive. Companies that still sell parts and bodies for reproduction dolls are not cheap today. A good mold alone can cost over 200.00.

Antique SFBJ doll in regional costume

Antique Dolls on Display, American Doll and Toy Museum

So, everything old is new again. Economics drove collectors’ desires, and hand made and reproduction dolls imitating antiques flooded the doll market. Collectors wanted something pretty, Victorian, and less expensive, and they got it.

Antique Jumeau